Learning to FIRE Lawn Care Customers Revolutionized My Business

[@christopherkluding477]

"They can be my competitors' problem." SO true! Thanks for sharing. Your videos are a blessing!👍💯

[@123hotdog111]

Well said.

[@freeportlawncare5997]

After 16 years of lawn care. We agree 100% with you!

[@lawncarelife]

Seems like customers don't change much from region to region

[@freeportlawncare5997]

@@lawncarelife we are in the same market. Freeport Florida is 5 hours south of your location. Our price sheet on our website does a good job of weeding out customers we don’t want. Second thing we did was “No Contacts”

[@erichkolb4378]

Very timely video Jason. The spring rush brings a high call volume. And that's great. But when the inbox is filled with the same chronic complainers it can be burdensome. The saying "the customer is always right" has been instilled into many small business owners. The truth is "the right customer is always right" is more appropriate. If you call, text and email your lawn care provider 10 times on a Sunday morning about a blade of grass turned the wrong direction, you may not be the "right" customer. I live and work in a retirement area. Some people do retirement well. Others do not. My observations have given me a completely new perspective on retirement.

[@lawncarelife]

The retired community seems to be the toughest for me

[@benjamindavis5762]

I’m working on that right now!!! It helps business big time!!

[@MrTomb1976]

i fired a lady in Aug of 21, she was older and a PIA to mow for, she called me beginning of April and begged me to take her back cause the guy who finished out last yr wasn't very good at all and she's been a different person so far, i even uped her rate for the mow lol

[@lawncarelife]

I have had a similar experience. They usually complain less once you take them back

[@kevinreeves879]

Disrespectful complainers are useless... You did the right thing!

[@goaheadmakeourdayscooterpe9644]

Love the stories, been there working construction past 35 years dealing with customers. You got it right though , to many good customers out there to let a few bad ones give you heartburn you don't need. Trust your gut instincts about a customer, you've been doing it long enough to know when it isn't gonna work and just go with it brother.

[@chuckmaxon3727]

I mow, edge and trim around 70 lawns now. When a chronic caller is on the line with some nit picky complaint I use it as an opportunity to raise their price by $5.00 to adjust for gas prices.

[@sickworldTV82]

I don't even answer the phone anymore they gone leave a msg lol

[@mowguy1]

I'm in the process of backing off on my work load for time to go do what I want. You know I have not driven by a lawn I used to mow and get bummed that I'm not there mowing.

[@mr.glennlandscapes354]

I have fired many customers. Usually for the same reason, I don't scalp yards. This season already fired 2 because they keep planting bushes, flowers landscaping lights in the lawn, no beds. I explained to them it takes longer to trim but they think it isn't a big deal.

[@lawncarelife]

not border landscaping is a pain

[@johnslawnseasttn4489]

100% correct. More money less time less stress better customers. With glyco getting so expensive ( lesco prosecutor and three way). What would be some other choices for weed grass and brush killer? Thank appreciate the vids

[@davidacordeiro5162]

Give help Jason. Thank you!

[@seabass22]

Fire them all. I tell everyone up front I’m part time. I work a full time job, I take pride in my work, and I bust my ass to get things done. Yes, weather can affect when I get to you, and yes I may decide I’m cutting your yard 2-3 early because weather forecast shows rain on your day and 2 days after that. I make sure they understand. If they start to make me irritated, by coming outside and watching everything I do, calling all the time, calling at nearly MIDNIGHT, I just drop em. I was miserable for years and almost couldn’t stand it anymore, until I made the decision that the customer may always be right, but doesn’t mean they are right for me. I also raised rates and found I get way less of those irritating customers that are looking for the cheapest possible option, instead of quality (which is my main goal.) I don’t want this to seem like I had a bunch of irritating customers, but one person can really make your life frustrating when you’re solo, and make it seem like the entire operation is frustrating.

[@andrewbooher1106]

I mow on the side and it didnt take me long to figure out some people are just idiots honestly.

[@devinb2523]

I had a client that called me wanting me to come over and pull grass out of a bed, the same day on Saturday while I was out of town. Sweat old lady, but it rubbed me the wrong way.

[@josephsepulvado2048]

Lawnservice owner - I drop 3 particular customers and have more peace of mind. Debated 2 years in advance; total relief now.

[@lawncarelife]

I can't think of one I have dropped that I later regretted. Thanks for the comment

[@jdizzle9766]

Cutting ties with customers that are habitual complainers can actually save you money in the long run. Just as there is always more lawn car providers there is also more customers in need of lawn care providers. It's purely a judgment call. You win some. You lose some.

[@lawncarelife]

I agree. I certainly don't think that I always make the correct judgment call. But I can't remain paralyzed afraid to act

[@erichawkins4064]

You nailed it!

[@lawncarelife]

Thanks for watching

[@j.maxwell8764]

I LOVE the truth in this video! The PIA customers can torture another company. There are a lot of nice appreciative customers and let the bitter people abuse someone else. If they have no manners I don't want their money. Great VIDEO!!!

[@lawncarelife]

Thanks for watching and for the comment

[@shanebretey373]

I hate when i get a call after one app and there are no weed in the Northern region. Then May happens. They call and have 4 total weeds.

[@lawncarelife]

Agreed. I am trying to do a little better job with communication with my customers to set the expectations.

[@daedae999]

You are like me, we don’t take no lip

[@davetires7300]

EXCELLENT JASON 🤓👍🇺🇸

[@lawncarelife]

Thanks for watching my videos

[@NottaBot_TrustMe]

The way I've worded how clients should treat me is "I don't need them to kiss my a s s, but they will not be a pain in it."

[@ultragreenllc]

I've found most home owners do not understand that their lawn is a "lagging indicator" of what they did 6-9 months ago or that their expectations exceed reality because they just do not know or understand. Had a recent interaction with a potential customer who indicated all the other companies he has used in the past all gave excuses as to why his lawn didn't improve. I simply informed the home owner that in my experience it is usually 80% the home owners fault because of their abiotic or cultural practices, like actively watering their lawn or soil nutrients. The home owner informed me he had an irrigation system to water his lawn and then I asked if it had ever been adjusted, tested, or measured for water output by a professional. I also asked when was the last time a soil sample was done and what are the fertilization rates/schedules. This home owner takes an above active approach with his lawn and has some semiprofessional equipment/chemicals to manipulate his lawn and he has been doing just that. All the advice I give to my customers, even their expectations, is most often based on what Texas A&M has put out. That way I can quote or reference peer reviewed sources and not rely on my own experience. Going into my third year where I've now expanded into commercial lawn and ornamental insect & weed control, I understand I know nothing but I have expert level mentors, locally, I can go to for help or advice. There is an app I can take a picture of a leaf, flower, fruit, or even bark and the A.I. system will tell me what it is and then I can use another app on my phone that will tell me how to manage it and which herbicides work best on it.

[@lawncarelife]

A lot of good thoughts in your comment. Sounds like you have learned a lot in a short time of business

[@DareChimera]

What’s the apps?

[@ultragreenllc]

@@DareChimera LeafSnap & the Tennessee University Mobile Weed Manual. the mobile weed manual is absolutely phenomenal and extremely user friendly.

[@DareChimera]

@@ultragreenllc thank you! This will definitely come in handy

[@jasoncouch9825]

Fired a nice guy after he complained almost daily that his $30 faucet timer sprinkler system drips 3 x a minute. He kept replacing stuff costing 100s x 10 visits a year. I told him lets put in a proper backflow valve manifold system with 110 volt timer for $3000. He said he couldn't afford it.... but could somehow afford to have me redo his Mickey mouse system endlessly lol. Told him its not worth the stress on me with his unreasonable standard for POS parts he instead on using. Offered to 0 out his account if he would please never call back lol. Offered other contractors he could call and thanked him for his past business, wished eachother well and shook hands. Best choice ever or 10 years from now I'd be still replacing faucet timers and expected to somehow make them not leak lol 😆 😜 😉

[@mikeyj2882]

The other day, had a new customer call me over for a cleanup and a cut. Said he might have three bags of leaves on his lawn in total. After spending almost an hour, blowing out his beds onto the lawn, it was easily over three tarps worth of leaves. I told the man, I’m sorry but I have to charge you more. It’s gonna take me longer to deal with these leaves. He wanted to argue. So I packed my shit up right in front of him and left. No time for liars and frugal people.

[@lawncarelife]

It can be frustrating. I truly believe the people are much more difficult than the lawns in most cases

[@davetires7300]

#TRUMP --> YOUR FIRED 🤬🇺🇸👍

[@chrisknight7921]

Love your channel. But you have to thicken up your skin. You have about 50 videos complaining about complaining. More weed idenify videos. Thanks.

[@lawncarelife]

I appreciate the feedback. I have a diverse audience. Some people love these type of videos. Others want weed control.

[@andrewbooher1106]

There is so many channels about just weed control. This is his channel. He can make what he wants. Nobody said you had to watch this video. You clicked on it...... lol

[@mikethomas4570]

Keep doing what you’re doing Jason

[@chrisknight7921]

@@andrewbooher1106 I said I enjoyed Jason's videos. We just identified a dick weed.

[@miket7071]

I think it's helpful to pass on customer service techniques. Lawn care people aren't generally the best at that but it is an important part of business.